That would have been a very full suitcase. One of my friends was saying the exact same thing before I went. We went to Tokyo, Hiroshimo, Kyoto and Naraya, a place near Mt Fuji. Tokyo was...complicated. 23 million or so people tend to create a massive town. I decided to dive in head first and separated from my group to go shopping on my own on the first day. I had a map and a few phrases but that was it. It was great fun though! Hiroshimo is...strange. I don't know how else to explain it. Alot of it dates from the 1960s, just after the war. We went to see the Floating gate which was wonderful and the Peace Park. I managed one photograph of that before I started crying. It's...hard to explain. It's a very dignified and peacful place but still sad. My dad went with me round that, showing me things and helping me recover. The peace park is not actually the epicentre of the bomb, just the intended target. It was off by 160 meters. It still flattened at least a mile of the city but the bridge and some of the buildings survived. The bridge was replaced due to old age 35 years after it had been hit. Now only one building from the bomb blast remains. We walked from that to the epicentre of the blast. It's now a shopping centre filled with shops and places to eat. Music, school supplies, even a card game shop. It's full of life and laughter. There's sadness there but so much life too. It's kind of hard to put into words. Kyoto was amazing! I had so much fun there, it was my favorite place out of the whole trip! Shops, history, we even went Gesha spotting. Weird but true fact: There are companies who own houses in the Kyoto Gesha district that they rent out to tourists. So if you visit Kyoto you can rent a flat in the Gesha quater for a week or more. It was so cool! Naraya is a spa town. You go there to relax and get away from it all. Most of it focused on traditional bath houses. It was fun but Mt Fuji was being very active. That was were we felt the worst Earthquake. I took a huge number of pictures and some video which I'm hoping to post. ^_^

Congratulations! I'm sure we would have had a wonderful time if we could have been there. All the best to you and your ever loving. ^_^ It was an amazing experience. I hope to go back again some day and see more. I suppose it was more because it was so unexpected. We had a lot of small ones. I'd be walking somewhere and suddenly feel like I was having a dizzy spell but it was just the slight vibrations from a tiny earthquake. We don't get many in the UK so it was very hard to get used to.

It sounds amazing! Renting a room in the Gesha quarter sounds like a ton of fun. I think I am most interested in the bath houses. But unfortunately for my boyfriend, he has a pretty large back tattoo and as I understand it, most of the bathhouses won't let you in if you have tattoos because they assume it is gang related. Too bad for him! Goodness, earthquakes are scary! There were a few little ones around where I live like five years ago and it was a very strange experience. I'm glad you are safe, it sounds like you had a great time. ♥ I will be forever envious.

This bathhouse gave you a hot tub in your room. Tatoos didn't matter since you just use the one in your room. I don't think he'd be able to use the public bathhouse but in the case of western tourists I think they're a little more leanent. He could have a treatment. I'm seriously thinking that if I can afford it, I'd love to stay in that area. I think it's okay as long as you're respectful and not loud. I don't doubt you'll get there one day and do all kinds of amazing things. ^_^

I'm glad you had a nice Halloween! :D And congrats again! 🎉 :D I'm very good, thanks! How are you? C:

Sorry to read your post to Slash (was trying to catch up on the thread), but is it true about the Japanese bathhouses and tattoos? I did not know that. Aww! We have some and it's always been a dream of mine to check them out with my hubby. :( Don't give up though, I'm sure we'll find one that is accepting of them.

Sounds like an amazing time! I heard the shopping was the best there :D I'm into a card game from there called Force Of Will and I know it's popular there, so knowing me, I'd probably hit up the card shop too! It's such a beautiful country.

I'm good too :D Thanks! Did you have a good Halloween too? I didn't know if you celebrate it but I still hope you had a good weekend atleast :)

Now THAT sounds amazing. I seriously wish we had nice tubs stateside. I never take baths because I just can't fit comfortably. Part of me is ALWAYS cold! I like that you included the keeping quiet part, apparently most Japanese people think foreigners are too loud, and most of the time I would have to agree with them. We are a very reactive culture while they are so mellow it is really interesting to evaluate the differences. There is a saying and it is escaping me right now, but it means something to the effect of "It can't be helped." Instead of getting mad about something they say "It can't be helped" and move on. I need to take notes, lol.

Yeah, from what I have read into. I started watching a lot of youtube people who moved to Japan and they have taught me a lot about the culture. I actually recommend it! There are places where they will let you in, closer to the bigger cities, but when you go into the countryside they are very strict about it. I guess back in the day only hardcore gangsters ever had tattoos and so everyone just assumes you are in a gang if you have one, and therefor only up to no good. They don't want to promote any sort of misbehavior so they usually turn tattoos away. But like Slash said, if you can get a private room then there is no worries!

Does anyone have a spare Topaz Demontail? I am willing to buy it off of you :) Just need that last one for an achievement.

That makes a lot of sense! I know tattoos are still not widely accepted in most cultures and especially with older folks (similar to my grandparents age). It took awhile for my Grandma to accept mine :(

Alas, I hardly got to play over the holiday and didn't manage to get any of those or I'd definitely loan or sell it! :)

I'm glad! :D We don't celebrate like you guys (only a few kids dress up and go ToTing), but I did have a nice weekend, thanks! :D You? C:

Ooh I see o: Good thing they were little ones. I'm very happy you had a great time! :D

I don't have an extra Topaz Demontail, but if you wana borrow mine for the achievement leme know.

The shopping was really fun! Though it was a little annoying since very little fitted me outside of places that saw a lot of tourists. But I still found some wonderful things. I'd say Kyoto was the best. They have a market there with 130 shops or more and that's not counting the shops running along the outside! Tokyo has a huge range too but its a bit much really. Though there are specific areas for things. I saw a huge number of card shops and there was one which really got me thinking. Are you familiar with YuGiOh GX at all?

I have to admit I did like their washing facilities. Though the more traditional washing facilities were a bit annoying. You had to sit on a stool and rinse yourself which got really cold after a bit. The people are fairly quiet, there's no shouting or honking of horns if the traffic is bad. But it feels like everyone is under a lot of pressure. My dad knows a few people over there. The shortest time anyone was working was 8am until 8pm. They do have the attitude of lets get on with it but I do wonder if they couldn't use a little more rest. Plus, they find it nearly impossible to say no. We had a ticket that go locked and the only way we could sort it out was to go back to Tokyo but we were in Kyoto at the time. We got passed around for an hour or more. Though I still think we went to the wrong desk but by this time everyone else had had enough and wanted to leave. I had a similar situation in a shop. I asked if they had a certain product and they didn't. I got a five minute explanation which I didn't understand on how it was due in soon. I think. It was nice of them to explain but I really couldn't follow what she was saying. No would have been easier really.

It got very strange after a while. I kept thinking I was having dizzy spells. But thanks. ^_^ It was a wonderful experience.

Aww! Thanks though :) I know the feeling, I couldn't play much from Friday-Sun and by then, it was just too late. I'm kinda glad there wasn't a plot this year but I did miss seeing Jaxon more this year :(

Thanks! Would you mind if I borrow it? I'll send it promptly back.

That's neat. I love to see what other countries do to celebrate holidays/traditions. Awesome! My weekend was great thanks :)

I know I would have a hard time as well shopping for clothes there currently but I would still find a ton of cute accessories :D Ugh, my wallet probably wouldn't like me much after a trip to Japan lol. I have heard of YuGiOh but do not play it. There is a following of it in my area but I play a game called Force of Will. Also pretty popular here too

Good morning everyone! C:

Good Morning! :) How are you? Loving the HA, pretty!

haha :D

Glad to hear it! :D

Hai!

Thanks! I was playing around in the wardrobe yesterday.. I'm actually not 100% sure about this HA. Might tweak it a little later.

I've definitely been better. I came home early from work yesterday with a stomach flu and was up most of the night because of stomach pains. So I'm taking today off as well :(

Oh no! :( I hope you feel better soon :(

I play around in my wardrobe a lot too but end up getting unhappy with it and not saving... I should just give up and save them lmao

Thanks. Me too. I get bored just sitting around and doing nothing all day!

Haha, sounds like me! I was just desperate to get into something that wasn't halloween themed last night ;)

Give up on Halloween? Never! :P Or atleast for me, never ;) lol I had to joke. I have wayyy too many clothes so I like to play dress up when I can.

How many items do you have in your wardrobe?